Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a term used to describe liver inflammations. As a rule, such a condition is caused by the action of an infection or damage to an organ, due, for example, to alcohol. These diseases encompass the liver completely and can be both acute and chronic. So, hepatitis: symptoms in men.

How does hepatitis manifest itself?

There are several different types of hepatitis, and they will be discussed below. Some of them pass without any serious problems, while others can be of a long-term chronic nature and cause scarring of the liver — cirrhosis and in some cases cancer. From the point of view of the clinical course, in medical science there are two forms of the disease:

acute;

chronic.

The acute course of the disease is mostly inherent in viral hepatitis, and the cause of which are poisoning. The chronic form can develop independently or act as a complication of acute hepatitis.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is one of the three most common viruses. Unlike others, it usually does not cause the chronic form of the disease. One of the amazing possibilities of the liver is its ability to heal and recover from injury. So, after liver inflammation caused by this type of virus, it can fully recover without any long-term damage.

However, people already suffering from chronic liver disease are more susceptible to serious pathologies as a result of hepatitis infection. Type A virus is mainly transmitted by the fecal-oral route. This way of spreading leads to outbreaks of the disease. Poorly washed hands or poor sanitary conditions in the case of an infected person can contaminate food or drinking water, subsequently contributing to the spread of the virus into the body of anyone who uses them.

In many cases, the symptoms of the disease is absent or mild. The most common signs of hepatitis A include:

rash and itching of the skin;

nausea and vomiting;

diarrhea;

feverish state;

loss of appetite;

fatigue;

the yellowness of the skin and whites of the eyes;

dark urine.

Hepatitis B

This type of virus spreads through the blood and body fluids. Quite often, hepatitis B does not cause any obvious symptoms in men and women. It usually goes away in a few months without treatment, but in children often persists for many years, which can eventually lead to serious damage to the liver.

The risk group includes people who inject drugs, as well as having unprotected sex with several sexual partners. Many people with hepatitis B do not have any symptoms. Their development usually occurs within two or three months after exposure to the virus. Symptoms of hepatitis B include:

flu-like symptoms - fatigue, fever, and general malaise;

loss of appetite;

feeling broken;

diarrhea;

abdominal pain;

yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes.

These symptoms in the case of an acute course of the disease usually go away within 1-3 months, although the infection may develop into a chronic form and last for six months or more.

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a virus that spreads from person to person through blood that contains infection. According to research, microscopic tears are sufficient for transmission of the virus, for example, during anal sexual contact. That is why men who have same-sex contacts, along with women who practice this kind of sex, are at risk.

High likelihood of infection in such cases as:

use of common injection syringes;

tattooing or piercing with dirty needles;

organ transplant or blood transfusion;

the presence in the medical history of the diagnosis of HIV or AIDS;

violation of the rules of personal hygiene - the use of a toothbrush or razor with a sick person.

Men, compared with women, have the ability to deal with disease to a lesser degree. The first symptoms of hepatitis C in men are:

increased fatigue;

yellowing of the sclera of the eyes;

pain in the abdomen, muscles, joints;

diarrhea;

stomach upset;

loss of appetite;

fever;

dark urine;

enlarged liver and spleen.

Symptoms and early signs of hepatitis C in both men and women can hide for a long time. This ailment is called the "gentle killer" because it has the ability to disguise itself as other diseases, and its course is often asymptomatic and prone to a chronic nature.

How is the disease treated?

Treatment options for symptoms of hepatitis A, B, C in men depend on the type of virus and the form of the disease. So, hepatitis A is usually not treated. Bed rest is recommended if the symptoms cause great discomfort. If vomiting, indigestion or diarrhea occurs, a special diet is prescribed. Vaccination helps prevent this type of infection.

Acute leaking hepatitis B does not require special therapy. But its chronic form is treated with antiviral drugs. This form of treatment is quite expensive because it stretches over several months or years and requires regular medical examinations and monitoring in order to determine the progress of infection in the body. Vaccination is required for all newborns and medical personnel.

Hepatitis C in certain people is cured without the use of drugs due to the immune response of the body. The chronic course of the disease requires the use of direct-acting antiviral drugs, their complex and combination use, and the determination of the best form of therapy. The treatment is expensive and time consuming. There is no vaccine.

An important role in the fight against hepatitis is prevention. These include improving sanitation, food safety, vaccination, guaranteeing the quality of donated blood, eliminating promiscuous sex and barrier protection during sex, and the inadmissibility of contact with another person’s blood. Take care and be healthy!